The Journal of Speculative Philosophy, Vol. I.
PREFACE.
In concluding the first volume of this Journal,the editor wishes to say a few things regardingits contents, even at the risk of repeating,in some cases, what has already beensaid. He hopes that his judgment in theselection of articles will be, in the main, approved.In so novel an undertaking it is notto be expected that the proper elevation andrange will be found at once. But the editorthinks that he has acquired some valuable experiencethat will aid him in preparing thesecond volume.
The reader will notice, upon looking overthe table of contents, that about one-third ofthe articles relate to Art, and hence recommendthemselves more especially to those whoseek artistic culture, and wish at the sametime to have clear conceptions regarding it.
It is, perhaps, a mistake to select so littlethat bears on physical science, which is by farthe most prominent topic of interest at thepresent day. In order to provide for this, theeditor hopes to print in the next volume detailedcriticisms of the “Positive Philosophy,”appreciating its advantages and defects ofmethod and system. The “DevelopmentTheory,” the “Correlation of Physical, Vitaland Mental Forces,” the abstract theories inour text-books on Natural Philosophy, regardingthe nature of attraction, centrifugal andcentripetal forces, light, heat, electricity, chemicalelements, &c., demand the investigationof the speculative thinker. The exposition ofHegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit will furnishpertinent thoughts relating to method.
While the large selection of translationshas met with approval from very high sources,yet there has been some disappointment expressedat the lack of original articles. Considerablymore than half of the articles havebeen original entirely, while all the translationsare new. The complaint, however, relatesmore especially to what its authors are pleasedto call the Un-American character of the contentsof the Journal. Here the editor feelslike pleading ignorance as an excuse.—Inwhat books is one to find the true “American”type of Speculative Philosophy? Certain veryhonorable exceptions occur to every one, butthey are not American in a popular sense.We, as a people, buy immense editions ofJohn Stuart Mill, Herbert Spencer, Comte,Hamilton, Cousin, and others; one can trace theappropriation and digestion of their thoughtsin all the leading articles of our Reviews, Magazinesand books of a thoughtful character.If this is American philosophy, the editorthinks that it may be very much elevated byabsorbing and digesting more